Chart viewer



March 7,} 1950 w. D. HORN ETAL CHART VIEWER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July3, 1948 Zhwentozs M/ML/AMQ Hole/V "II/I. v'il,'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIrill/Ill)! EPH Zak/1c:

(Ittomeg March 7, 1950 w. D. HORN ETAL CHART VIEWER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed July 3. 1948 inventors l V/LL/AM 0. Hoe/v LUKAGS March 7, 1950 w.D. HORN ETAL CHART VIEWER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 5, 1948 attorney 5r m n e nu n 3 M Z Z M MW i 0 MI March 7, 1950 w. D. HORN ETAL CHARTVIEWER Filed July 3, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 7, 1950 w. D. HORN ETALCHART VIEWER 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 3, 1.948

Patented Mar. 7, 1950 CHART VIEWER William D. Horn, New York, and JosephLukacs, Long Island City, N. Y.; said Lukacs assignmto said HornApplication July 3, 1948, Serial No. 36,968

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an animated chart viewer and more particularlyto a viewer in which a chart is visually traced ina predetermined timedsequence in the view of an audience.

The invention is particularly applicable to visual charts of the abovetype which are synchronized with a recording of a radio program or thelike to indicate the audience reaction to the different parts of theprogram. It may be used, however, in other embodiments where a chart isto be presented to an audience in synchronism with a recorded or oralexplanation or as an accompaniment to a talk or lecture.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above typein which a light spot appears to trace the chart on a suitable screen asthe program proceeds.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the above type in which theportion of the chart already traced appears as a luminous line, whereasthe remaining portion of the chart is invisible.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the above type in which thechart may be readily removed and replaced as required for differentprograms.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the above type whichincludes visual means such as green, amber and red lights, or audiblemeans, such as a buzzer or gong, or both. to indicate when the linebeing traced is in a predetermined mid-area of the chart, and when it isabove or below the mid-area.

Another object is to provide on an apparatus of the above type novel andimproved means for synchronizing the tracing light with a. sound record.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature ofthe invention is more fully disclosed.

In one embodiment of the invention, the chart which may representaudience reaction to a program and may be obtained in the mannerindicated in Stanton Patent No. 2,373,511 dated April 10, 1945, isformed as a transparent line in an opaque chart sheet which is placedbefore a -fixed light source and in back of the viewing glass. Avertical band of light from a movable source is caused to traverse thechart line in synchronism with a rendition of the program so that itappears as a moving spot of light tracing the chart. A shield isarranged to advance with the light band so as to expose .the portion ofthe line already traced to light from said source, but to block off theuntraced portion of the line. In order to prevent the untraced portionof the line from being visible from the front of the viewing glass dueto the reflection of the light from the room, the chart sheet may becovered with a colored lacquer which conceals the line except 2 whenexposed to light rays from within the housing.

Green, amber and red lights are provided which are actuated by contactbrushes travelling with the tracing light and adapted to close contactsfor energizing the various lights at selected portions of the chart.Relay means may also be provided for causing the momentary actuation ofa gong when the green light is energized and the momentary actuation ofa buzzer when the red light is energized, so as to call the attention ofthe audience to the fact that the chart has reached a point above orbelow the mid-area.

The novel features which are characteristic of this invention will bebetter understood from the following description, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings in which a specific embodiment thereofhas been set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an animated chart viewer embodying thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a program record player connected to beoperated in synchronism with the chart;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing thesynchronous transmitter attached to the record turntable;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the viewer of Fig. 1;

Figs. 6 and 7 are transverse sections taken on the lines 66 and of Fig.5;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the chart andcooperating light and bellows;

Fig. 10 is a partial horizontal section taken on the line l lli0 of Fig.5;

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the animated chart viewer; and

Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating the electrical circuitinvolved.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, the viewer is shown in Fig. 1as comprising a housing I 0 having a front plate ll carrying a viewingglass I! through which a chart line It is visible. The housing It ismounted on a base is carrying a light box l6 having three lightcompartments carrying green, amber and red lenses l1, l8 and I9 andcarrying a gear box 20 in which the driving pulley is located.

Referring to Fig. 2 a record 25 with which the chart is to besynchronized is shown as positioned on a turntable 26 of a record player21 of standard construction having a tone arm 28.

For synchronizing the record 25 with the chart mechanism an electricalsynchronous transmitter 30 is provided which is mounted on a bracket 8|(Figs. 2 and 3) which is adjustably supported on a vertical rod 82having a base 92 for purposes of support. The synchro-unit is providedwith a shaft 25 carrying a cone-shaped connector 84 which isfrictionally secured in the bore 88 of a sleeve 81 carrying at one end adisc 88 having a bore 88 adapted to fit over the end 48 of the turntableshaft 4|. A bushing 42 is shown as seated in a central recess in thedisc 88 to facilitate mounting the same on the end of the turntableshaft 4|. 2 v

The face of the disc 58 is provided with a plurality of inserts 44having central recesses 45 adapted to engage a spring-pressed plunger 45of the type commonly carried on turntables for use in connection withelectrical transcriptions which must be accurately timed and must besecured against slippage on the turntable. In the embodiment shown inFigs. 3 and 4 four such inserts 44 are shown. It is to be understood,however, that three or more may be used as required or the inserts 44may be formed in the shape of a continuous ring. The synchro-transmitterunit 28 is connected by a line 48 (Fig. 2) to a similar receiver unit tobe described in the viewer shown in Fig. 1.

In operation, the disc 38 is positioned on the record 25 after thelatter has been placed on the turntable 25 and is turned until thespringpressed plunger 45 enters the recess 45 of an insert 44. Theconnector 84 of the synchro-transmitter unit 35 is then positioned inthe bore 88 of the sleeve 21, the bracket II is adjusted to the correctelevation on the rod 32, and the support 88 is placed on the surfacecarrying the record player 21.

After the record has been played the entire synchro-unit may be liftedtherefrom by means of the bracket 3| to facilitate the removal of therecord.

Referring to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the housing I is shown as comprising rearcover 41, bottom 50 and top carrying rails 52 and 53 respectively onwhich wheels 54 of a carriage 55 ride. The rear cover 41 may be securedto the top 5| by hooks 49 (Fig. 11) The bottom of the rear cover 41seats in depression 50a in bottom 50.

The carriage 55 is shown as driven by a metal cable 55 which is securedto a post 51 on the carriage 55 and extends over a driving pulley 58 andidler pulleys 59 and has its ends 80 and II secured together by a spring52. The driving pulley 58, as shown in Figs. and 11, is somewhat conicalin shape and is provided with a plurality of grooves 58 which are ofdifferent circumferential lengths. The pulley 58 is keyed to a shaft 54for axial movement thereon and may be locked in selected position bymeans of a set screw 85a.

In operation the pulley 58 is shifted axially until the desired groove53 is brought into reg .'istration with the driving cable 55 and islocked which is driven in synchronism with the unit 30 so that theoperation of the driving pulley 58 is synchronized with the operation ofthe record turntable 25.

The carriage 55 carries upper and lower clips 68 and 69 (Fig. 7) whichare mounted on spring arms 10 and H (Figs. 5, 7 and 10) attached to thecarriage 55 and electrically connected to rails 52 and 53 by brushes(not shown). The carriage 55 may be made of insulating material,preferably of a transparent material such as plastic. A light bulb 12 ofthe type having an elongated filament or a fluorescent tube is providedwith terminal sockets at its two ends held in the clips 58 and 69.

A bellows shield 15 (Figs. 5, 8 and 10) is attached at one end 18 to theend 19 of the housing I0 and at its'other end to a clip (Figs. 5, 7 and8) which is adapted to slip over the light bulb 12. The bellows shield15 is guided on stationary wires 8| which extend the length of thehousing I0 and are secured at their ends by suitable springs 82.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7 the housing I0 carries a viewing glass I2 inback of which is placed a chart sheet in which the line I4 is cut or thesheet 85 may be in the form of a thin film having an opaque coatingthereon which is scratched to leave a transparent line I4. A coating 85of a colored plaster sheet such as Zip-A-Tone" is placed over the chartsheet 85 to conceal the position of the unexposed portion of the chartline I4 from the observer.

A contact strip 81 of a metal such as brass, is cemented to the upperportion of the chart sheet 85. The strip 91 is provided with a coating88 of insulating material, such as an insulating lacquer, which isscraped off at suitable points to provide contact areas 90 (Fig. 5). Aprotective sheet 9| of flexible plastic, such as Lucite" is placed inback of the chart sheet 85. The strip 9| is secured at the ends bysprings 92 (Fig. 10) which are arranged to hold the strip tight so as toreduce the friction, but provide suflicient resilience to permit thechart sheet 85 to be readily inserted or removed.

With the front plate II in closed position, as shown in Fig. 6, thechart sheet is secured by means of three studs 98 between the front IIand the top 5|, but with the front in open position as shown in dottedlines in Fig. 7 the chart sheet and contact strip may be readily removedfrom between the strip 9I and the glass I2. The front II is held inposition at the bottom by clips 94 (Figs. 6 and 7) and the top by studs95 and nuts 95 (Figs. 1, '7 and 11). The metal contact strip 81 engagesa spring-pressed contact pin 98 (Fig. 11) by which electrical connectionis made thereto.

A brush support I00 (Fig. 7) is secured to the carriage 55 and projectsupwardly through an elongated slot MI in the top 5|. The support I00 isprovided with a horizontal section I02 carrying three brushes I04, I05and I08 which are adapted to make contact respectively with busses I01,I08 and I09 which are mounted on the top 5|. The brush support I00 isalso provided with a vertical section I I0 carrying brushes III, H2 andI I3 which are spaced vertically and are positioned to wipe across theinsulating lacquer surface of the contact strip 81 and to make contactwith the strip 81 at the areas 90 where the lacquer is removed. Thebrushes III, H2 and H3 are connected respectively to the brushes I04,I05 and I06 by. connecting leads, not shown.

Referring to Fig. 5, lights H5, H8 and H1 are positioned in respectivelamp compartments in the light box It in registration with the lensesI1, I8 and I9. Referring to Figs. 7 and 11, a plurality of elongatedlights I20 and I2I are disposed in the housing I0 for illuminating thechart line I4. Referring to Fig. 8, the light 12 is provided with ashield I22 which extends entirely around the In the operation of thedevice thus far de- I scribed the chart line I4 which is to be viewed inconjunction with the program recorded on the record 25 is formed on thechart sheet 85. Such chart may comprise for example a plotting of theaudience reaction to the different parts of the program as obtained in aprevious survey. If the chart sheet 85 is of metal or a solid materialthe line I4 may be cut therein by a saw. If, however, the chart sheet 85is a film having an opaque coating, the line I4 may be formed thereon byremoving the coating to leave a transparent line.

Referring to Figs. 5, 7 and 8, the contact strip 81 is attached to thechart sheet by suitable means as by glue and appropriate contact areas80 (Fig. v5) are made by removing the insulating lacquer from the backof the contact strip at the selected points. These areas are selected tomake contact with the brushes I I I, I I2 and I I3 when the line I4crosses the boundary of a predetermined central area and are for thepurpose of energizing the lights H5, H8 and H1, as will be described.

The front is released and tilted forwardly as indicated in Fig. "l, andthe chart sheet inserted between the glass I2 and the backing sheet 8Iwith the contact strip 81 engaging the contact pin 88 (Fig. 5). Thefront is then closed to the position shown in Fig. 6 and the carriage 55is moved to the extreme lefthand side as seen from the front wherein thelight vertical band from the light 12 is brought to register with thebeginning of the chart line I4. In this position the bellows shield 15covers the remainder of the chart to prevent pa sage of lighttherethrough from the lights I and I2I within the housing and thecoating 86 on the front of the chart 'sheet prevents the unlightedportion of the line I4 from being visible from the front of theapparatus.

The record is now placed on the turntable 26 and the disc 38 is broughtinto contact therewith as p eviously described. As the record is nowplayed the synchronous transmitter 30. which is driven by the turntable,drives the synchronous re eiver 65 and causes operation of the cablepulle 58 in exact synchronism therewith. Hence the carriage 55 is drivenalong the tracks 52 and 53 in exact synchronism with the p ayin of therecord. As the light 1' moves along the cha t the intersections of thechart line I4 with the band of light projected through the transparentstrip I24 appears as a bright snot which traces the chart line I4 as thecarriage advances. However, as the carriage advances the bellows sh eld15 likewise recedes from the forward end of the chart exposing theportion of the chart which has been traced by the light from the source12. Hence this portion of the chart is illuminated by the lights I20 andI2I in the housing and appears as a lum nous line. The light spotproduced by the light 12 thus indicates the position of the chartcorresponding to the exact portion of the program being played at thatinstant, and the luminous line shows the path already traced by thelight spot.

Theadjustable cable pulley 58 provides means for adjusting the movementof the carriage 55 in accordance with minor variations in the length 6of the chart so that exact synchronism with the program may be obtained.

The arrangement of the contact areas (Fig. 5) is such that when thelight spot appears in a preselected mid-area, the amber light I8 isilluminated. When the light spot moves above that area, the green lightis illuminated, thereby indicating for example a more favorable audiencereaction, and when the light spot passes below the mid-area, the redlight I8 is actuated to indicate a less favorable audience reaction.

As outlined above, the green light I1 may be accompanied, by an audiblesignal, such as a gong, and the red light I8 may be accompanied by anaudible signal such as a buzzer. The electrical circuits for carryingout this response are shown more in detail in Fig. 12 as follows.

In Fig. 12 a volt supply line is indicated at I30 and a 6 volt supplyline at I3I. Relays I32, I83 and I34 are provided respectively to beactuated with the green. amber and red lights H5, H8 and H1. The bussesI01, I08, and I08 are connected respectively by leads I35, I36 and I31to one side of coils I38, I38 and I40 of the relays I32, I33 and I34respectively, and to one side of the respective lights H5. H6 and H1.The return sides of the coils I 38, I38 and I40 and of the lights H5, H6and H1 are connected to a return lead I which is connected througha,switch I42 to the return side I43 of the 6 volt supply line I3I. Thecontact strip 81 is connected by a lead I44 to the opposite side I45 ofthe 6 volt supply line I3I. Hence when the brushes III, H2 and H3 makecontact with the contact areas 80. a circuit is established from the 6volt supplv line I3I through one or the other of the coils I38, I38 andI40 and the corresponding lights H5, H8 and H1.

A holding circuit for the coil I38 is established throughcontact I50 andswitch arm I5l of the relay I32, line I52, arm I53 of the relay I33,back circuit I54, line I55, back contact I56 and arm 151 of the rela I34and line I58 to the 6 volt supply line I45. Hence the coil I38 remainsenergired as long as coils I38 and I40 are both deenergi ed.

A holding circuit for the co l I38 is e tablished through a contact I60and arm I6I of the relay I33 lead I62, arm I63 and back contact I64 ofthe relay I34, lead I65, back contact I68 and arm I81 of the relay I32and lead I68 to'the 6 volt supply line I45. Hence the coil I38 remainsenergize as long as coils I38 and I40 are both deenergized.

A holding r'ircuitis established for the coil I40 through contact I10and arm I1I of the relay I34, lead I12, back contact I13 and arm I14 ofthe re ay I33, lead I15. back contact I16 and arm I11 of the relay I32and leads I18 and I68 to the 6 volt supply line I45. Hence the coil I40remains energi"ed as long as coils I38 and I38 are both deenergized.

In this way when a relay and its li ht are once energized by one of thebrushes making contact with an area 80 the light and relay remainenergized until the circuit is broken by another brush making contactwith a contact area 80 to energize a second relay and a second light.

The relay I32 also establishes a, circuit from the 110 volt supply lineto a time delay relay 204 as follows.

Beginning with a 110 volt lead I8I the circuit is completed througharmI82 and contact I83 of relay I 2. thence through a lead I84 to a leadI85, resistor I86, rectifier I81, condenser I88 and 7 resistor I93 inparallel, and lead 200 to the return side of the 110 volt line I30. Arelay coil 20I is connected across the condenser I90 and is adapted tobe energized for actuating an arm 202 to open a back contact 203 whenthe voltage across the condenser I has been built up, to a predeterminedvalue. The relay 204 accordingly constitutes a time delay relay whichactuates a predetermined time interval after the closing of the contactI93 which interval is dependent upon the size of the condenser I and ofthe resistance I99. The time delay relay coil 20I is also energized fromthe 110 volt line I9I through a lead 205, arm 206 and contact 201 of therelay I34, and lead 200. Hence the contacts 201 and I93 are connected inparallel and the time delay relay coil 20I is energized by actuation ofeither the relay I32 or the relay I34.

A gong I00 is energized through a circuit including the 6 volt supplyline I45, leads I68 and I18, arm I11 and contact 2I0 of the relay I32,lead 2I I, coil 2I2 of the gong I30, return lead 2I3, contact 203, arm202 of the time delay relay, lead 2, switch 2I5 to the return side 2I6of the 6 volt line Ill. Hence the gong I90 is actuated upon energizationof the coil I38 of the relay I32 and the circuit is broken after apredetermined time interval by actuation of the time delay relay 204.

A buzzer 2I0 is actuated by a circuit from the 6 volt supply line I45which includes the lead I44, contact strip 81, contact area 90, brushH3, brush I03, a bus I09, lead I31, lead 2I9, coil 220 of the buzzer2I3, buzzer contact 22I and arm 222, return lead 2I3, back contact 203and arm 202 of the time delay relay 204, lead 2I4, switch M5 and lead M6to the return side of the 6 volt line I3l. Hence the buzzer 2I0 isactuated while the brush H3 is on the contact area 90 for energizing therelay I34 for a period of time until the contact 203 is broken byactuation of the time delay relay 204.

The gong I90 is thus actuated to produce a single tone when the greenlight relay I32 is closed and the buzzer 2I0 is actuated for a shorttime only when the suitable contact is made for energizing the red lightrelay I34. In the above described system, as the audience hears theplaying of the recording 25 which may constitute a radio program or anexplanation of a sales chart, or the like, or hear an oral talk which issynchronized with the tracing of the chart I4, the audience sees thevisual tracing of the chart by means of the light spot, followed by aluminous line indicating the portion of the chart previously traced,together with a green, amber or red light indicating whether the chartis in the mid-area or above or below the mid-area.

In order to further draw attention to the fact that the chart hasreached a point either above or below the mid-area the gong and buzzerare respectively actuated. Hence the audience obtains both a visual andan audible indication of the movement of the chart so that the mosteilective response is obtained thereto.

Obviously, if the chart sheet 85 comprises a thin metal strip, the chartsheet and contact strip 81 may be made as a single unit. Alternatively,if the chart sheet 05 comprises a thin plastic sheet of insulatingmaterial, the sheet may be extended to the area occupied by the contactstrip 81 and contact may be made by cement- 8 ing contact members to thestrip at the selected locations. Also the cable drive may be replaced byother driving means, such as a screw feed, if desired, particularly ifminor adjustments in the driving relationship are not required.

Various other modifications will be apparent to a person skilled in theart.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown, it is tobe understood that the invention may be applied to various uses and issuited for oral presentation as well as recordings, although theautomatic synchronizing means makes the apparatus especially suitablefor playing recordings of the type above referred What is claimed is:

1. A chart viewer comprising a housing having a light source therein, anopaque chart sheet carrying a chart in the form of a transparent linemounted at the front of said housing so that said line passes light fromsaid source, a movable shield disposed between said source and saidchart sheet to block on the rays from said source, a carriage in saidhousing mounted to move along the back of said chart sheet, a lightsource on said carriage and means associated with said light source toproject a narrow vertical band of light onto said chart sheet whichappears as a light spot at the intersection of said band and said linewhich traces the line as said carriage advances therealong, said shieldbeing movable with said carriage to expose the portion of said linealready traced by said light spot.

2. A viewer, as set forth in claim 1, in which said second light sourcecomprises an elongated tube, a shield is disposed around said tubehaving an elongated light opening facing toward said chart sheet and alight transmitting member is disposed in said opening with an elongatedsurface adjacent said sheet'to direct a vertical band of light thereto.

3. A viewer, as set forth in claim 2, in which said first shieldcomprises a collapsible bellows having one end fixed adjacent thetrailing end of said chart and having its other end attached to saidlight bulb to feed therewith along said sheet.

4. A viewer, as set forth in claim 1, in which said chart sheetcomprises an opaque film having a transparent chart line thereon, and acolored film on the front of said opaque film to conceal the line froman observer except when exposed to the light from said source.

WILLIAM D. HORN. JOSEPH LUKACS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

